Scalp-treating device



Oct. 2, 1951 H M. AVERY scALP-TREATING DEVICE Filed Sept, l 1949 Patented Oct. 2, 1951 l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE soALPTREAT1NG DEVICE Hillard M. Avery, Indianapolis, nd. `Appui-maori september 1, 1949, serial No. 113,563

(ci. 12s-64) 13 Claims.

The present invention relates to a device for treating the scalp, and its primary purpose is to provide a device wherebycontrolled temperature conditions may be impressed upon the scalp. Additionally, it is an object of the invention to provide means for vibrating the device through which temperature control is attained. Still furtheryit is an object of the invention to provide means for impressing vibration upon the base of the users skull and the adjacent muscles, tendons, leaders., and blood vessels, and upon the soft parts immediately .adjacent the mastoid prominences ofthe users temporal bones.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device of the character described includingv means whereby water, or other fluid, may be caused to flow or circulate against the remote surface of a eXible diaphragm, impermeable to such fluid, which diaphragm is arranged to enclose the upper portion of the users head during such flow.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to thefact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

Fig. l is a perspective `view of a device constructed in accordance with my invention, in use position; and

Fig. 2 is a somewhat reduced longitudinal section through the device illustrated in Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, it will be seen that I have provided a coroniform frame comprising the elements IIJ and I' which elements, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, are preferably pivotally connected, though the frame may be integral. A bladder, indicated generally bythe reference numeral I I, and of general concavo-convex shape, `is made upV of separated elements I2 and I3, dening a hollow space therebetween. I presently believe that both of the elements I2 and I3 will preferably be formed of waterprooof, flexible material, such asneoprene or some other suitable rubber substitute; though it may be desirable to make the element I2 of sheet metal or some other stii, sturdy-bodied, water resistant material. The element I2 may, if desired, be rubber or rubberized fabric; but for reasons which will appear, the element I3 should be a readily flexible, waterproof material impervious to oils, alcohol, and the like.

The two elements lz and la are joined, at the f mouth of the concavo-convex bladder, as at I4;

, the joint dening algenerally` oval .band somewhat larger than the average head contour. As shown, the element I 3 is substantially hemispherical with the region of the joint I4 depending below the diametrical plane; and I presently believe such proportions to be optimum. The bladder is secured to the frame I0 at its mouth, as by rivets i I6 or the like. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the forward portion of the blad. der is free, to provide improved flexibility of the unit for accommodation ofvarying head sizes;

but, in some instances, it may be desirable to` secure the bladder to the entire perimeter of the` coroniform frame.

The frame includes an arched transverse mem ber I1.

A pad I5 of sponge rubber or similar material is located within the bladder near the center.` thereof, and is fixed to both walls I2 and I3 in any suitable fashion, as by cernenting, vulcaniz- At suitable points, preferably within the region traversed by the reinforcing strap I'I and on opposite sides of the pad I5, the .bladder element II is provided with an inlet port I8, in which is `arranged a nipple I9, and an outlet port in which is arranged a similar nipple 20. A ilexible conduit 22 is connected with the nipple I9, and a similar iiexible conduit 23 is connected with the nipple f 20. Oi course, in use, the conduit 22 is connected to a source of fluid of controlled temperature,

rwhile, the conduit 23 leads to a point of discharge;

Preferably, the conduits 22 and 23 will be provided with valving means such the hose clamps 24 and 25.

At each side of theframe I0 a guide member` 26 is `pivotally supported, as by means of a bolt 27.2` i

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, each such guide member is formed with a guideway 28 which opens, through a slot 29 through` the outer surface of the guide element 26, for a purpose later to vbecome apparent.

An electrically energized, low-frequency vibrator unit 30, which may be of conventional conlstruction, includes two relatively movable ele- As shown, the rivet 2| may have as, for instance, i

ments. To yoke arms 3| and 32 are mechanically connected to one of said elements, while a post 33 is mechanically connected to the other of said relatively movable elements. A saddle 34 is carried by the post 33, the arrangement being such that, when the frame I is in positioncn the users head; the saddle .34iwil1 bearfagainst' the. base of themus'er's` skull and/or` against `the muscles, leaders, tendons and blood vessels irn-v An electrical con y adjustment isprovfided order tri-.accommodate theisaddle; 3.4:,n in-its'fposition4 relativato the. :frame I Il, to .the `particular..shape. ofI any individualy lusers head.. VAI presentlyry believeY it. tobe desirableI to` mounta. cushion-420i sponge rubber; or .the like on the; innersurface; ofnzthe'; saddle'. 34.

Preferably;the;saddlef3-4'supportsftwo resilient leavess385, and 39; onel lendzof each-:leaf -beinganchored' on v.the saddle.; and the. opposite. :end of each;` leafgscarrying a .member -Illiof, :substantial mass. VThe arrangement of the elements issuch thatgi-f .wheny JtheA :treatment:A device is properly located on the users head, the members 40 will,

beanagainst .fthefsott-.parts of fthe-'users neck. immediatelypbehind.. and below fthe mastoidr' prominences'; oifthe.usersftemporal: bones, .the `support-` ing;-leafffor eachmemberfbeing somewhat. flexed from itsiposition of)L equilibrium. y

Ihave foundxmy ltreatmentgdevice .to be--highly electivein the application; ,of.-tenics, lotions,-. vor dressings; tczthe hair.; srIn uses ilxpreferto; apply4 a suitable -substancet .ther hair; :distributing .the substance :thoroughly .through .thefhair mass-r and against. the: scalp,A anduthen-to Wrap..:the hair or scalpdn a towel: 4I,f-or gcl'oth cap. Now, 1.3132137' my, treatment ;deVce, fwhich', when I the-bladder -is i deflated;v Iwilli ,clear the: perimeter` of Ithevaverage misers head and rest, with that portion of..theL

element; I 3 :which is TVfixedl tothe pad. I.5,.Y bearingA on..the.top of. .the fheadw ANow.the :conduit 2-2'. is connected-toY a;source of,- for insta-nceyrvvater.- of controllable temperature@ i .and fthe. conduit I 23 is carriedtoa-.point of liquiddisposal.. The ,valve A 24 is. now; opened, and` the.- selectedf fluid -Willzow into,;and fill; Athe'-cavitvfbetvveen the elements I2 and I3 of. .the bladder. II Once lthe .cavity has been; iilled, :the .valvewz Awill-i beapartiallyicpened. to permit circulation. off .fluid through the .bladder u cavity. Since ow. thrcughffthe outlet fnipple.- is

restricted', af v fluid pressure 1 sufficient. to `.expand thebladder willbe createdtherein;I whereby the Y region adjacent the bladder mouthwillfbekpressed` closely: into` engagement; with the. perimeter of the fusersfiheadi and, as; the bladder thusgexpands, .theuser :will :adjustfthefideyice f to a.. ccmfortable-seation'his lhead suchzthat. as indicated .in

Fig'.Y 2;:the device f willbe Isupportedzupomthe 1 innatedmoumfregion ofi-.he biaddenfwitnrheipoiav region of the bladden'loccupiedlby.the-pads I 5;'outz of contactiwithe.thencrown oftheuserfstheadi *The saddles 34;.willa1novwbeuadjustedi to bear .with .ade-A sireda'pnessurefzagainstf the back oil-the 1f headsor neck.

20 3I.:o1= 32i in. any1-pcsition:cffnadjustment relative Y to the zassociatedrelement;:25. n rjObvimJsly,v Y. such Y Now, as liquid circulates through the bladder, the temperature of the entire region enclosed by the device will approach the temperature of the circulating fluid. Thus, if the `circulating fluid 5 is hot water, the pores of the scalp will be opened to assist penetration of the previously-applied drfe'ssingcireulation willffbetstmulaiieL ahd, in someminstancesf the dressing, ore rcomponents thereof, will be Volatilized. After a desired period Vcfliot water circulation, I presently believe it to .-1.besdesirableto circulate cold water through the' bladder, thereby tending to close the scalp pores wa'nd;` fagainffstimulating blood circulation. In some.iinstances it.may be desirable to alternate 15 hot and cld' fluid circulation several times.

Beneficial"I effects can be obtained, through the control of the temperature by the flowing uid, everr: inthe iabsenceof means4 forprcducing, ,vibration. f I-presently-:believe,:.however,. that Ithose. eiectsfcan :b'ezimprovedfby Aenergizing .theA unit to vibrateftheentirehelrnet.andthesaddlel.

useful;l additionally/.nin the. `treatment Jof... headaches;` and. lthe-:resilientlyl .supportedmasses 440g bearing .upon.the vfmuscles, leadera. tendons. and. blood Vessels immediately adj acent the. mastoidV Y iprominences-,.;arex particularly, advantageous. in.

this- .application of..-thex device..--V The. resiliency.. .ci` the leaves .38; and i35i.,materially-fcontributescy the applicationI of proper. modulatingv pressureato` the a-lected-.partsa and ithe. treatmenttends to :stimulate thex 'blood flow. to..the.head.

As -I have indicated, .substantialgadvantages Y may-.be attained =through.the..use of :the helmet;

with its: bladder.Y arrangedto: permit. @the circula.d

tion1..of. Ifluid. of.. controlled: temperature.. .theresubstantial advantages may be attainedgbyns.- ing the vibrating meanswithout utilizingtheniiid and the .like td the: -hair and scalp.

I-.clfaimas invention: Y Y 1.-. .In a, .dev/ice of. thewclass described, a .orcniform frame,- a .hollow-r,concavofconuexbladder whoserconcave wallisreadilyflexible. the rimcfl said`v bladder; beingfsecured' tofsaidiframe, ,arr inlet .means connected to eachof said;.ports,said blad--Y der being imperforatefexceptfforsaidpcrts..

2; :The: device. of eclairnA .l infwhichasaidbladden is substantially Ipart.;sr-:lherieal;V including means renderingthe camityfwithnisaidbladder substan-n tiallyfannular, said.inletQ-andfoutlets'portsa being. peripherfally rspaced .fricxnieachy other;

,.namedfrneans .is a .-padr off. .water.resistant,.softlyv resilienmmaterial.. Y v j 4. Thefdevice of-.claim liincludinga nipplaon each .ofi-said Ipcrts,randfatnansyerse archedemem bere4 carriedi- 1by@ sadi frame.-. and, supportingsaid,

.'lhezdevicezot claim'flf infwhich. saidceneave. j bladder. -awallg` isufcrmed; ot f.waterprootA :materiali impervious-to voil;

6.v ITher-'device e ofclaim; irinoluding; a :.vibrator,. Y

randimeansfprcuidingia @.IfrieclfianicalImation:-transmitting connection betuenzsaidi vibratori: and

said frame.

'75 7. The device of claim 6 in which said vibra-V ow capacity of lthe illust-rated.invention@ I.

presently@ believe, howeven, .that fthe.. concurrent l.use of. .thea twocapacities.- ofj .the unit produces optimum .results-inl `the applicationl ofdre'ssings.

port and ansoutlet. portfopening into and :from the interior of said bladder, and flexible.conduity g interpcsedbetvveen andfxed tc :the.lcaladden-vvalls` ...substantially .au ,thee centerof. I said .-lfbladdenand.

tor includes a rst part and a second part relatively movable with respect to said iirst part, one of said vibrator parts being mechanically connected to said frame, and the other of said vibrator parts being mechanically connected to a saddle which bears, when said frame is in position, on the back of a users neck adjacent the base of the users skull.

8. The device of claim 7 in which cushioning means is carried by that face of said saddle presented toward the users neck.

9. The device of claim 7 including a resilient leaf anchored at one end on said saddle and supporting, at its opposite end, an element of substantial mass which, when said saddle is so placed, bears upon the soft parts adjacent the mastoid prominence of the users temporal bone.

10. The device of claim l including a vibrator, a pair of yoke arms supportingly connected to said vibrator, a pair of elements on said frame and respectively arranged at opposite sides thereof, said yoke arms having a. sliding association with said elements, respectively, and means for securing said yoke arms in any one of a plurality of positions of adjustment relative to said elements.

11. In a device of the class described, a coroniform frame, a vibrator, means providing a mechanical connection between said vibrator and said frame, and a saddle separately carried by said vibrator, said saddle bearing, when said frame is positioned on a users head, against the users neck adjacent the base of the users skull.

12. The device of claim 11 including a resilient leaf anchored at one end on said saddle and supporting, at its opposite end, an element of substantial mass which, when said saddle is so placed, bears upon the soft parts immediately adjacent the mastoid prominence of the users temporal bone.

13. In a device of the class described, a coroniform frame, a vibrator including a rst part and a second part relatively movable with respect to said first part, one of said vibrator parts being mechanically connected to said frame, and the other of said vibrator parts being mechanically connected to a saddle which bears, when said frame is in position on a users head, against the users neck adjacent the base of the users skull.-

HILLARD M. AVERY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 809,360 Dible Jan. 9, 1906 861,349 Beaubien July 30, 1907 998,804 Salisbury July 25, 1911 1,821,979 LoWen Sept. 8, 1931 2,120,872 Seward June 14, 1938 2,123,418 Crosley July 12, 1938 2,369,881 Berns Feb.. 20, 1945 2,435,894 Marc-Aurele Feb. 10, 1948 

